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Clinical Neurophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 958))

Abstract

Different neurophysiological methods such as evoked potentials (EP), testing of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) or polysomnography have the potential to detect clinically silent lesions or to confirm the existence of an association between a clinical symptom and multiple sclerosis (MS); previously undetected by MRI. Therefore, in the most recent MRI criteria for the diagnosis of MS (MAGNIMS consensus guidelines), neurophysiological confirmation of optic nerve dysfunction (slowed conduction on visual EP), support dissemination in space and, in patients without concurrent visual symptoms, dissemination in time. In this chapter we will review the existing evidence regarding the role of different neurophysiological tests (specifically the role of EPs, autonomic nervous system testing and sleep testing in MS) in the diagnosis and management of MS.

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Abbreviations

ANS:

autonomic nervous system

BAEP:

brainstem auditory EP

CIS:

clinically isolated syndrome

CMCT:

central motor conduction time

DIS:

dissemination in space

DIT:

dissemination in time

EP:

evoked potentials

HRV:

heart rate variability

mEPs:

Multimodal evoked potentials

MEPs:

motor evoked potentials

MS:

multiple sclerosis

OH:

orthostatic hypotension

ON:

optic neuritis

OSA:

obstructive sleep apnea

PoTS:

orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

RBD:

REM sleep behavior disorder

RLS:

restless legs syndrome

SSEP:

short latency somatosensory EP

VEMP:

vestibular evoked myogenic potentials

VEPs:

pattern reversal visual Eps

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Habek, M., Adamec, I., Barun, B., Crnošija, L., Gabelić, T., Krbot Skorić, M. (2017). Clinical Neurophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis. In: Asea, A., Geraci, F., Kaur, P. (eds) Multiple Sclerosis: Bench to Bedside. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 958. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47861-6_8

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